National Community Planning Month » 2014

Proclamations, Scavenger Hunts, Box Cities, and Crosswords

Posted November 05, 2014

Recap of the 2014 National Community Planning Month Celebrations

Communities around the country celebrated National Community Planning Month this past October in a variety of ways – open houses, city hall displays, proclamations and community contests. Here’s a quick recap of event highlights.

Proclamation Contest

This was the first year for the APA Coast to Coast National Community Planning Month Proclamation Contest. While we fell short of coloring the entire U.S. map “APA Blue,” we did have 27 states participate. Three states even submitted state-wide (or Commonwealth-wide) proclamations: Arizona, Michigan and Virginia. Member Mike Upston, AICP, from Eagle Point, Oregon, was randomly selected among all those who submitted a proclamation to receive the forthcoming PAS Report Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation. Congrats Mike!

Community Activities

While a proclamation is one way to celebrate planning during October, several communities were creative with their activities to highlight planning and planners.

Avondale, Arizona, hosted a city-wide scavenger hunt that celebrated the community’s treasures. A local family team won the hunt and received a $200 gift card. Minnetonka, Minnesota, hosted a box city during the annual city-wide open house. More than 100 kids contributed to the design, including a library with attached librarian quarters, a hotel with a green roof and an energy efficient building. Boynton Beach, Florida, hosted a photography contest. The photos had to portray the city’s built environment.

Amarillo, Texas, created a unique way to increase awareness about planning. James Bentley, a planner with the City of Amarillo Planning Department, created a planning terms crossword puzzle. The catch, all of the puzzle’s answers could be found in the first four pages of the city’s zoning ordinance. Bentley said that by directing participants to the ordinance, it helped inform the public that there was a way to view the various rules and regulations that associated with planning.

“The most challenging part of creating the puzzle was trying not to make it too difficult because I, and most everyone in the field, understand these terms and what they mean, but your everyday citizen might not,” said Bentley.

Oakland Park proclaims

City-wide scavenger hunt

Posted October 31, 2014

Avondale, Arizona

The city celebrated in multiple ways. The mayor proclaimed October as Community Planning Month. An informational booth was located in the city hall lobby and a city-wide scavenger hunt for residents celebrated the community’s treasures. A local family team won the hunt and received a $200 gift card!

Wilson proclaims

Posted October 23, 2014

Wilson, North Carolina

Mayor C. Bruce Rose has proclaimed October as Community Planning Month. The city also presented the city council with the North Carolina APA Great Places in the Making Award along with the biannual comprehensive plan report showing how planning is implemented and making a difference in the city. Additional activities include a Walk to School Day, a city-wide service project with Barton College called Barton Day of Service, a neighborhood cleanup around the city center in the Old Wilson neighborhood and at the Freeman Roundhouse, and a team to do trail maintenance at the Educational Forest.

Medford Proclaims

Photos and Crosswords

Posted October 16, 2014

Amarillo, Texas

The city is asking residents to share their favorite photos of Amarillo in the Favorite Amarillo Places Photos. Photos can be shared via the city’s Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag @AMAFavoritePhotos.

The city also has a downloadable crossword puzzle designed to help citizens better understand planning terms.

Resident participation recognized

Posted October 16, 2014

Westfield, Indiana

Members of the city’s city council, advisory planning commission, redevelopment commission, board of zoning appeals and task forces were recognized for their contributions during a recent city council meeting. Mayor Andy Cook also proclaimed October as National Community Planning Month.

Library Activities

Posted October 16, 2014

Woodland, California

Kids ages 3 to 9 created dioramas of their favorite places in Woodland on October 8. Future activities include kids creating dioramas of how to better use a vacant lot in the town and to draw a picture of what they like most in Woodland.

Back to school

Posted October 16, 2014

Bloomington, Illinois

By a Friday afternoon, 60 sixth-graders had created eight new communities using construction paper, recycled boxes and other art supplies. Two were river communities, two were lakeside communities and two were communities rebuilt after being destroyed by a tornado. The students were assisted by planners from several communities.

Student Post Contest

Posted October 16, 2014

San Angelo, Texas

The Planning and Development Services Department is hosting a student poster contest. The contest is open to students at three area middle schools and must depict how they imagine San Angelo will look in 10 years. The winning poster will be displayed at City Hall.

The department also is offering free trolley tours of downtown on Oct. 16 during the monthly Art Walk. Riders will see development that is revitalizing downtown.

Afternoon of volunteer service

Posted October 16, 2014

Albany, New York

Members of the Capital District Planners Association celebrated National Community Planning Month by volunteering in Albany’s Arbor Hill neighborhood. A dozen members and friends volunteered with Habitat for Humanity at its Sheridan Hollow Village project. Finishing touches were added to the first of two residential units being completed.

Nature hike and kids run/bike duathlon

Posted October 16, 2014

Avimor, Idaho

As part of National Community Planning Month, the Avimor community has partnered with the Ada County Development Services to host a nature/bird walk and a kids run/bike duathlon on Saturday, October 18.

Minnehaha County proclaims and engages

Posted October 09, 2014

Minnehaha County, South Dakota

County Commission Chair Cindy Heiberger signed a proclamation declaring October as Community Planning Month.

In addition to the proclamation, the Minnehaha County Planning Department is hosting a public workshop to continue to gather resident input for the development of the Envision 2035 Comprehensive Plan. Members of the community also are invited to share photos, art, drawings, videos and other media of a special place in the county that they enjoy or want to ensure is protected. Submissions will be accepted for two months.

Florence proclaims

Building a box city

Posted October 09, 2014

Minnetonka, Minnesota

During the City of Minnetonka’s annual city-wide open house, the Community Development’s table offered an activity for kids ages 2 to 12 to create their own city using paper and boxes. It is estimated that approximately 100 kids participated in building the box city. Highlights include a library, complete with an attached librarian’s house next door, water tower, energy efficient building, a tree house and a hotel with a green roof.

Reno proclaims

Town of Queensbury proclaims

Posted October 09, 2014

Queensbury, New York

Queensbury Town Supervisor John Strough and council members Anthony Metivier, Brian Clements, Dough Irish and William Van Ness signed a proclamation declaring October as Community Planning Month in the Town of Queensbury.

Palmdale proclaims

Sanford Celebrates

Posted October 06, 2014

Sanford, Florida

The City of Sanford is ready to celebrate. Information about National Community Planning Month is available on the city’s homepage and the Planning Department is creating a display of maps, photographs and drawings that show how the community has evolved over time. The city also will be hosting a photo contest.

Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett also signed a proclamation, declaring October as Community Planning Month.

Commonwealth of Virginia Proclaims!

APA New Jersey Celebrations

Posted October 06, 2014

The APA New Jersey Chapter is ready to celebrate National Community Planning Month. The chapter has planned community tours, professional development opportunities and networking events. And the chapter will announce its 2014 Great Places in New Jersey designees, including the People’s Choice Awards for Great Downtowns.

Some highlights include: a bus tour of the Inner Essex Rail Corridor; guided bicycle tour through Hoboken and Jersey City; and a City Planner Book Club Meet-Up.

St. Cloud Proclaims!

Built environment photo contest

Posted October 06, 2014

Boynton Beach, Florida

Boynton Beach’s Planning and Zoning Division is hosting a photography contest to celebrate National Community Planning Month. Photographers of all ages and skill-sets can submit three digital images that portray their unique perspective of the built environment. Winners will be recognized at a city council meeting.

Food Systems and Prosperity

Posted September 11, 2014

Tampa, Florida

The Tampa Bay Food System: Planning for Prosperity will showcase the role of planning in Tampa Bay’s food system. the event is organized as a partnership between the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, the University of South Florida and the Florida Chapter of APA, SunCoast Section.

The program will highlight emerging research and new initiatives that are changing community food systems. It will showcase economic development, land development regulations and community engagement initiatives. Presentations will focus on food trucks, new extension initiatives, food policies and civic agriculture.